The Jennings & Rebecca Jones Foundation is pleased to announce the final recipients of its 2013 grants. Continuing support was granted for educational programming at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County and family literacy programming at Read To Succeed.  Support for professional development at Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City Schools, and math programming at St. Rose of Lima was also granted.  In total this year, the Jennings & Rebecca Jones Foundation granted $307,700 to educational endeavors in Rutherford County.  Earlier in the year grants were made to MTSU, Discovery Center, The Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra, AVID at Smyrna High School and many others.

For over 25 years the Jennings & Rebecca Jones Foundation has supported educational endeavors in Rutherford County.   

Jennings H. Jones, Assistant District Attorney for Rutherford and Cannon Counties, is very pleased to have officially joined the Jennings & Rebecca Jones Foundation Board last February.  “My grandfather, Jennings Andrew Jones established the Foundation as a way to help children and young adults learn the skills necessary to succeed in life.  I take great pride in the Foundation’s contribution to the community and am moved by seeing my grandfather's hard work come to fruition. As a Foundation Board member I plan to continue the work of my grandparents, and to have a lasting impact on the Rutherford county community.  Their vision, to encourage participation in our community through academic excellence, is an inspiration to me.  I look forward to working with my family, fellow Board members, Foundation staff and grantees to create innovative ways for our children to learn and succeed.”

Read To Succeed executive director Lisa Mitchell says, “Funding from the Jennings & Rebecca Jones Foundation allowed Read To Succeed to expand Family Literacy programming to 5 more schools during the 2012-13 school year, some from both the City and County systems.  The demand for programs is always increasing and includes many schools that ask us to return annually.  We honor as many of those requests as possible, while also trying to serve new schools.  The Jones funding also help us expand our Family Literacy partnership with Middle Tennessee State University; during the last school year, we added professors and students from the social work, math, and history departments to our ongoing relationship with the education department.  This new grant will help us reach our goal of family literacy programs at the final four Title 1 schools, in addition to continuing programs in our other schools.

Mary Morriello, Education Director for the Murfreesboro Boys & Girls Club says, “Each year the Boys & Girls Clubs of America & the Tennessee Area Council honors an outstanding program in Academic Success.  Our Club was selected for the Jones funded “Insights Summer Reading Intervention Program.” At the state conference our Club was presented with this award due to the impact that that the reading program had on our youth.”  One parent told her,  “Thank you for providing an opportunity for my child to get the reading help that they need going into school next year.” Many Club families know that their children are behind, or on the verge of being behind, but due to finances and work can’t get them the additional help they need.  Ms. Morriello says “The Club makes a huge difference for these families since we are able to provide their kids with the academic support they need, even during the summer.”   One child told her “I love getting to learn all year long, the coolest part is being able to do special projects that the rest of the Club isn't doing.”

Saint Rose of Lima, Director of Development, Renee Miller says, "This grant enables Saint Rose of Lima Catholic School to provide a new and outstanding, innovative program for our students.  The Singapore Math program, titled Math in Focus, encourages students to think 'outside of the box' when applying math concepts.  It encourages problem solving and critical thinking with hands-on applications and strategies.  We look forward to seeing our students excel, and enjoy, math!  We are grateful not only this grant, but also for the Jennings & Rebecca Jones Foundation’s commitment to educating the students of Rutherford County."

Jones Foundation executive director, Ronni Shaw, is very pleased with this year’s grants.  “We have been able to support a quality mix of programs for teachers, parents, and students, those excelling and some struggling, materials, training, technology, and all over Rutherford County.  We’re cooking up some new projects for the end of this year and next which I look forward to sharing soon.”

Source: 

Ronni Shaw
Executive Director
Jennings & Rebecca Jones Foundation